The Minister of information, Mr Labaran Maku while briefing State House correspondents after the meeting, said the approval for the naturalization of foreign citizens was taken after a critical examination of their applications and credentials.

According to the minister, 45 were in the registration category while 129 were in the naturalization category.

“Citizenship by registration is reserved particularly for women of foreign ancestry married to Nigerians and citizenship by naturalization, foreigners, male that change their citizenship to that of Nigeria’s citizenship” he said.

The Council also denied 27 of the applicants over issues with security and tax payments.
Most of the applicants were from Lebanon, Syria, Greece, Mexico, Thailand, Venezuela and South Korea.

They were granted based on status of marriage, period of residence, business and other national requirements.